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A van. Nothing fancy, but a van.
“An SDS drill.”
Yes! Annoying walls are rarely annoying now!
Also, a singlespeed kit. I almost made my Cotic Soul singlespeed when I got my first full-sus but chickened out. Just singlespeeded my new hardtail and I’m liking it so much more than I expected!
A van. Nothing fancy, but a van.
Careful what you wish for! See my earlier post! 😉
Decathlon chain whip has got to be up there
Also Velohinge bike hooks for storing the bikes.
Another one for bitcoin. Years ago the guy that used to cut my hair would bang on about bitcoin (he was getting into mining it at the time) and suggested I buy some. I just used to nod along and pretend I understood what he was talking about. Would have been the perfect time to get in.
He also got into air BnB early on and now has a decent property portfolio, could've heeded that advice as well! 🙄
Caramelized onion houmous.
A paddleboard.
I absolutely love being on the water and the paddleboard is such a simple way of achieving that. I can even go and do it using my motorbike or a bus to get to water.
I'm reminded by another thread - a wide sleeping bag. So much better to sleep in as a 'sturdy' 180cm frame.
Get an air duster spray for sure!
So, my in-laws bought me a pet drier for my birthday, swearing that it was awesome for drying bikes. I was, it goes without saying, quite cynical...
Well, I was quite wrong - It's bloody awesome! I use it for drying bikes after washing them as it's got huge air flow (and is heated too) so is every bit as good as a compressor for blowing water out of the corners of bikes (perhaps even better as it blows warm air). It's also awesome for drying things like chains when they've been washed in the afore-mentioned ultrasonic washer. Mine is now permanently installed on a shelf in the workshop and I wouldn't be without it.
DI Resin water filter for car cleaning in a very hard water area, no need to dry off the car at all and zero water marks, it cuts the time to clean the cars, better finish and no scratching when drying.
When these "best purchases" threads turn up on Reddit, they always have the same top answers..
Electric Toothbrush
"Tea Kettle" - mainly American, so not standard out there
3m phone charger lead
Magic Wand (nsfw if you were unsure)
Rice Cooker
Magic Wand
Instructions unclear. Been using for 3 hours now and still not received my Hogwarts owl...
Can’t think of anything as far as MTB goes as everything is mostly covered by everyone. Maybe an all in one front light unit? I recently bought ravemen PR which has two beams one for MTB one for road there’s a big battery inside and it’s all self-contained and it’s also a USB power bank. I wish they’d been available ages ago!
Oh yes also arm warmers I’ve never actually bought any, I just use Mrs P’s over-knee socks (with the feet cut off) on my arms. Because I run hot in general
I am prefer just wearing a T-shirt I could’ve used these years and years ago I’ve only been using them for a decade. Super useful for my winch and plummet autumn shenanigans.
Cycling in general (for transport, utlity and leisure)
- Rear rack + rack-pack, panniers, drybag etc
I never regret ditching the rucksack. Extra weight on the body is extra weight on the bonch. Weight carried on the bike/off the body is always better.
- Full-length fitted mudguards
Growing up in the 1980s and also getting into mountain bikes sort of fixed in me a certain aesthetic that dictated mudguards to be ‘uncool’. Sent by Artur and the utility by both we fully fitted guards it’s an absolute joy to go cycling in the rain (and they look cool)
- A touring bike
I sort of happened into ATB (which is my favourite type of riding) then MTB, but before that (from 15-23yrs) I used to day-tour on a custom racing bike. Typically half century or century rides. But with the narrow tires and terrible brakes I didn’t have much luck on anything other than tarmac
Citroen Berlingo MPV. Thought about one years ago but didn't buy one till recently. Brilliant car. Extremely comfortable. Bikes in upright. No charge at the local tip since its not a van. Very good economy. Fast enough. Small enough to park (standard length, not the XL)
WAX based chain lube. No more mess. No more decreasing.
WAX based chain lube. No more mess. No more decreasing.
I love my Smoove wax and nothing stays put like wax when riding in the rain. I discovered this when I borrowed someone's eMTB for a jaunt around Dalby, and the ample lube they had applied beforehand was all gone after just an hour in the rain, leaving me with the noisiest bike known to man!
The bit I have a problem with is that while the chain stays cleaner, you end up with wax residue build-up around the sprockets, chainrings and, especially, the jockey wheels. Sometimes almost doubling their width if I've not been diligent about cleaning! Obviously, you don't need to reapply as often as with oil lubes, but I find I do have to do it from time to time without a full degrease, and once this is done, the residue rapidly accumulates. Indeed, the very first photo in this thread is caused by wax residue on a bike used in grim, winter conditions.
So while I love wax and love riding with it, it definitely doesn't remove the need to degrease. At least, not in my own experience.
Argh STW glitched reloaded the page during my edit so pls excuse loads of weird dictated/uncorrected stuff and also half of my post is missing. I give up.
(note to self for the hundredth time - compose in notes and then paste)
cont’d
One-wheeled cargo trailer
TW Bents/EBC (B.O.B Yak copy)
This is the best thing ever. I carried a full-size oldskool upright vacuum cleaner and some groceries back home the other night and didn’t have to take the car. I’ve tried other bike trailers but neither did they track as well/so undetectably, nor did they fold flat and go into their own dry bag. This is just awesome. Now I can leave the car at home even more.
Pogies
Better than gloves in every way if it’s ‘bitter out’. I use ‘Cygloves’ which have a faux-fleece lining. And if I need to reach into a handlebar bag then I just slide my hand out of the pogie, open the bag and now I can still operate my phone without having to get wet gloves on and off.
Handlebar bag
After years of small rucksacks and/or different types of frame bags or wedge packs I now use a click on and click off handlebar-bag for most of the things I would carry on a typical ride. Depending on the ride this could include a selection of the following: Cable lock, puncture kit and levers, peanut butter sandwiches, multitool, rain jacket, baked beans from the local shop, map, phone and keys, some wild mushrooms that I just found et cetera et cetera. In many of those cases it’s great not having to dismount or twist around just in order to retrieve something from the bag.
To top it all - having a click-fix system means I simply use the bag-handle (or optional) strap to carry the bar-bag when away from the bike, which negates a need to decant anything or everything. So when you’re finished at the brewery/pub table and you realise there is half a packet of crisps/scratchings/pretzrls left, you simply stow them in your handlebar-bag and then click it back on the bike 👨🏻🦰👍🏼🥨
a good as opposed to adequate mtb. Don't wait until you're almost too old to enjoy properly, is something I'll bear in mind for next time round. Oh..
I just use Mrs P’s over-knee socks (with the feet cut off) on my arms. Because I run hot in general
I imagine now you've cut her feet off Mrs P doesn't run at all?
You monster.
Ooh I like that pet dryer, like a workshop leafblower almost!
Gold.